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<br />Terry Maurer, P.E. <br /> <br />-Page 2- <br /> <br />July 28, 2006 <br /> <br />Cities metropolitan area as well as the growing trade centers of Princeton, Zimmerman, <br />and Elk River. Currently this facility is a four-lane divided expressway with signals at <br />major intersections and some limited frontage and backage road systems. As growth <br />has extended out from the Twin Cities into Sherburne County, commuter traffic has <br />significantly increased. This has caused safety and congestion issues on TH 169 and at <br />many local road intersections. In addition, because the corridor is one of the primary <br />recreational links to the central lakes region, it has significant recreational volumes and <br />a greater percentage of vehicles pulling trailers, which affects roadway operations. <br />Furthermore, Sherburne County has significant aggregate resources, and many of these <br />resources are located along TH 169 between Elk River and Zimmerman. These facilities <br />generate a significant amount of truck traffic on TH 169. The use of these aggregate <br />resources is likely to increase as aggregate sources in and around the Twin Cities area <br />become depleted. These large trucks affect the operations of TH 169 and create safety <br />concerns. <br /> <br />STUDY PURPOSE <br /> <br />The purpose of the TH 169 Interchange Study from Elk River to Princeton is to develop <br />a detailed, long-term access strategy for TH 169 that transitions TH 169 from an 8t- <br />grade expressway facility to 8 limited access, grade-separated freeway facility. The <br />study will produce staff approved layouts and environmental documentation that include <br />the following three components: <br /> <br />1. Future TH 169 interchange locations <br />2. Preferred Alternatives for interchange designs <br />3. Frontage and backage road system that replaces direct access eliminated as <br />part of the freeway conversion. <br /> <br />The study will analyze the need for the transition to a limited access, grade-separated <br />freeway facility and propose a roadway system that meets current and future <br />transportation needs in the TH 169 corridor. The selection of a preferred TH 169 <br />alternative will provide greater clarity for Elk River in planning future infrastructure and <br />land use in the T H 169 corridor. <br /> <br />Please contact me at (320) 223-6526 if you or the Counci I have any questions. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />a-,~ <br /> <br /> <br />(' <br /> <br />/tr <br /> <br />Craig Robinson, P.E. <br />Project Development Engineer <br /> <br />Cc: Dave Montebello, SRF <br /> <br />Enclosures <br /> <br />H:\Projects\5669\TP\Admin\Elk River Mat'ls\Cover letter.doc <br />